Any clubs doing any rides like these?

Nice View! (Volpe on a Balloon)

Originally uploaded by Rick Carpenter RUSA 4015

I’m  taking a vacation! I’ll be back on the blog later this month, so post any sort of bike junk you want in the meantime!

Also check out this bike balloon race that is held in Warren County; we should totally go to that next year. I mean, I should go; you should get a friend with a balloon and just do it.

Cool article on what long distance cyclists eat:

http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-long-distance-cyclists-really-eat.html

My #1 roadside quickie mart grub is Nutter Butters.  Yours?

 

I bike & I vote – Bicycle Music Festival in Precita Park

Originally uploaded by Steve Rhodes

It’s clear to me that there are all sorts of different political stripes from people who read and post here, so here’s some takes on the open space question that is on the ballot tomorrow.  Feel free to add your own.

First, AndyB has a post on the connection between open space and biking on the Walk Bike New Jersey blog.

And here’s an open letter to New Jersey Cyclists from Morristown resident Samantha Rothman:

Dear NJ Cycling Community:

We are a cycling family. From my husband in the woods on a mountain bike, to meeting up with neighbors for a road ride, or pulling our son in the bike trailer on our local rail-trail, one thing is clear: we simply love being on our bikes.

I’m sure you feel the same. And I’m sure you would agree that cycling is about more than just the act of riding a bike. It’s about the places you go, the things you see – and the way you see the world while riding by on a bicycle.

That’s why I’m urging all cyclists to VOTE YES on PUBLIC QUESTION #1.

By approving this question, we’ll keep the Green Acres, Farmland Preservation and Historic Preservation programs running. The Green Acres program has been a national leader for State conservation programs, with 95% of funds going to actually preserve open space and improve recreational access for all our families. This is a New Jersey program that works, and works with very little waste or overhead.

Without this important source of funding, parks for mountain bilking, science views of working farmlands, and trail improvements that allow me to comfortably pull my son in the trailer, will not have the necessary funding they need to expand, grow and improve. This is all to say nothing of the value of the ecosystem services that open space provides – like clean water and clean air.

Yes, times are tough in New Jersey, but continuing funding this program is the right choice for our State.

Please – vote YES on November 3rd.

Regards –

Samantha Rothman

It was a spooky night before Halloween when the critical mass bikers executed their 6:30 assault on Morristown.  Even though the weather  was relatively nice for an October 30, the ride was smaller than the previous several months.  It was probably the fact that it was now dark at 6:30 and not nearly as inviting as the previous months.  Nevertheless, most who showed, and I am estimating 50 in all , were haunting and amusing Morristown on their bicycles and in their costumes.  Check out the 5-minute YouTube video compilation I made while peddling in the ride with Rags the Dog on the back of my bicycle.

I wasn’t in a costume but I did have Rags the dog riding with me on the back of my bicycle while Kathy carried Scraps the dog on the back of her bike. While both dogs rode separately in critical mass rides in the past, we have never been able to get both to a ride together until tonight.  I recently hooked up both bikes to carry both dogs.  Click here to read my blog posting about biking with both dogs and I even have a cool video of our first major ride.

If you missed last month’s critical mass video, it is below.

Friday is the big Halloween bike ride!  I picked up a costume at Del’s Novelty last night, but I’m not sure it makes any sense.   Seemed like a good idea at the time, which really seems to be my slogan.  Anyhow!  The ride leaves from the town hall parking lot, 200 South Street, at 6:30.  Get there early to check out the costumes!  Also be sure to light up your bike, because it is def going to be dark from here on out for the monthly Morristown rides.

Marty’s had a party last year after the ride, but is being renovated right now, so feel free to stop by my apartment after the ride for an after ride party, featuring one of Dean’s awesome bands, eyeswan.  If you need directions, drop me a line at morristownpedalpushers @ gmail.com.  Here’s a video from Bar 46 of eyeswan.  Will be awesome to see how this works out in our apartment!

I went to Austin, Texas last week for a little vacation to visit friends.  I had a feeling it would be a popular place with bikes since this is where that popular cyclist by the name of Armstrong is from.  What really surprised me, was most of the people I saw on bikes were not the spandex clad Lance wanna-be’s.  They were just normal people doing normal things like going to work, food shopping, or having a beer at a bar enjoying the live entertainment.  They even had a bike in movie while I was there.  I wish I had brought my bike.   I’m posting some pics that inspired me.

The view from the airport baggage claim.

The Austin Visitor Center.

The Whole Foods in Austin.

The busses have bike racks. I checked NJ transits website and they claim to have these racks on their busses in the Princeton to Atlantic City areas. Has anybody seen them in our area?

A pic I took of some bike people I noticed while eating dinner.

I’m not a fan of graffiti, but this mural is pretty interesting.(If you look close, you can see cyclist and his bike.)

Though bike racks are everywhere, this artistic bike was locked to a street sign.

http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2009/10/vo-sqeal-free-brake-pad-review.html

morristown halloween bike ride

Originally uploaded by kendra e

Friday! October 30!